Cigarette packaging machinery



7 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE DEARSLEY BY 77AM. XTTO G. DEARSLEY Aug. 20, 1968 CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 4, 1966 Aug. 20,1968 G. DEARSLEY 3,3

CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINEI RY Filed Aug. 4, 1966 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INVENTOR GEORGE DEAR SLEY A TORN Y 20, 1968 G. DEARSLEY 3,397,922

CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 4. 1966 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY,

Aug. 20, 1968 e. DEARSLEY CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINERY 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1966 f3 f 3 M is ATTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet GEORGE DEARSLEY I O N Aug. 20, 1968 cs. DEARSLEY CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 4, 1966 \N \N N\\ \N u i :1 N g 15 0 g 1 3 m! wmmwmmmfimmmmWWMWWWWMMW-M$wWmmmmmmmwmwmmfl HHH 6 u M QNQNJ MG W q, 5 N w E .w ww z 5 20, 1968 G. DEARSLEY 3,397,922

CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 4, 1966 'r sheets-sheet s 204 FIG. l3

i r 202 a f H40 V L94 1 i 5 z 1 Z \1 ---/00 02 204 -l92 J ATYORNI! g- 20, 1968 G. DEARSLEY 3,397,922

C IGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 4, 1966 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG. I8

272 P58 -27] G V/Z74 INVENTOR. GEORGE DEARSLEY BY I 1' 275 "*7 ATTORNEE United States Patent 3,397,922 CIGARETRE PACKAGING MACHINERY George Dearsley, Richmond, Va., assignor to American iJVIachine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New ersey Filed Aug. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 574,882

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 11, 1965,

28 Claims. (Cl. 302--2) This invention relates to an apparatus for conveying elongated articles, such as cigarettes, and particularly but not solely for conveying cigarettes from a maker to a packing machine.

According to the invention we provide a method of conveying elongated articles such as cigarettes, comprising moving the articles along a path towards a dispensing device with their longitudinal axes transverse to said path of movement, moving said articles one by one along their longitudinal axes towards a chamber within said dispensing device, and forcing the articles one by one into and along a delivery tube connected to said dispensing device by means of compressed air fed to the chamber.

Further, according to the invention we provide an apparatus for conveying elongated articles, comprising a dispensing device capable of receiving the articles disposed with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other and transverse to the path of movement towards the dispensing device, and at least one delivery tube connected to the outlet of said device for receiving said articles, said dispensing device having metering means for moving said articles one by one along their longitudinal axes towards a chamber within said dispensing device, said dispensing device having an air inlet for the entry of compressed air to force the articles into and along the tube.

By providing an apparatus for conveying cigarettes through a tube it is possible to elfect coupling of the maker and packing machine without the necessity for repositioning the existing machinery, making possible the economies of automated operation without the cost of reorganizing the existing product flow in any particular plant.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of oppositely facing dispensing devices for dividing opposed streams of cigarettes, which commonly result from the manufacture of filter tipped cigarettes, and which are moved laterally along a catcher band, and forcing the cigarettes into the tubes connected to said devices with the same ends of the cigarettes facing the same direction of travel. The oppositely facing dispensing devices make the usual mechanical turn-around devices unnecessary.

A number of these conveying apparatus having oppositely arranged dispensing devices may be used together in order to couple makers to packers conveniently in the ratio of two makers to one packer. Any number of machines may be so coupled, large installations being broken down into modules of eight makers to four packers or sixteen makers and eight packers. By coupling plural makers to one or more packers, the supply and/ or demand is spread.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a pneumatic transport system employed to deliver cigarettes from a pair of high speed cigarette making machines to a single cigarette packaging machine,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a cigarette dispensing device designed to receive cigarettes from the pneumatic transport system,

3,397,922 Patented Aug. 20, 1968 FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cigarette dispensing device,

FIG. 4 is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is another sectional end elevation of the cigarette dispensing device, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a vented Wedge-shaped corner guide of the pneumatic cigarette transport system,

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the same,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional end elevation, taken on line 88 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of an unvented, Wedge-shaped corner guide of the pneumatic transport system,

FIG. 10 is a partial end elevation of the same, taken on line 1010 of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a horizontal cigarette floatation conveyor unit shown in conjunction with metering and accelerating rollers,

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the same, taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is an end elevation, with parts broken away, of the cigarette floatation conveyor unit taken on line 1313 of FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a partial plan vie-w of one of the flotation conveyor channels,

FIG. 15 is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken on line 15l5 of FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 is a partial sectional side elevation of one of the floatation conveyor channels shown in conjunction with a cigarette metering roller,

FIG. 17 is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 is a front elevation of one of the serpentine chutes which conducts and guides the cigarettes into the hopper of a cigarette packaging machine,

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of the same,

FIG. 20 is a sectional bottom view, taken on line 20 20 of FIG. 19.

In reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings each cigarette making machine delivers its cigarettes C onto a conventional catcher band 30 each of which is part of and driven by said machine. As a rule each cigarette maker delivers its cigarettes in two rows which are carried by said catcher band to dispensing devices D which are secured adjacent the end of the catcher band 30. While the drawings show only one dispensing device for each row of cigarettes delivered into the same, two or more may be arranged side by side permitting said cigarettes to spill over from one dspensing device into the adjacent one. This arrangement is especially deisrable in high speed machines to prevent choking of the transport system and to assure slow transport speed. The cigarettes enter laterally into the dispensing devices and are then removed from there one at the time at a controlled rate and fed into a pneumatic transport tube 3 in which they travel in a longitudinal direction. The cigarettes may be removed from the dispensing units D with either the tip or tobacco end first, depending upon which end is to be uppermost in the finished package. By making suitable arrangements on each side of the catcher band 30, all cigarettes may be caused to enter the pneumatic transport tubes 32 with the chosen end first, in spite of the fact that the two rows of cigarettes may be directed oppositely. The oppositely facing dispensing devices D make cigarette turn-around devices unnecessary in the collation of the oppositely facing cigarettes into a uni-directional group. The cigarettes are conveyed within the transport tubes 32 by means of air pressure which by means of a suitable tube 34 is directed into each dispensing device D from a suitable source (not shown). In order to slow the cigarettes down as they approach the exit, each transport tube 32 near its end is connected to another transport tube 36 of larger diameter. The larger inside diameter of each tube 36 reduces the air velocity resulting from the increased cross-sectional area of the tube and a final vented wedge-shaped guide 38 to which the end of each tube 36 is connected permits the air issuing from the transport tube to take a separate path from that traveled by the cigarettes and simultaneously; directs the cigarette into a downward or vertical path while separating small particles therefrom. At the same time the motive force applied to the cigarettes is removed so that they can slow down under the influence of friction generated by centrifugal force action thereon caused by moving around the curved path of the lower end of the guide. The lower end of each wedge-shaped guide which consists of a bend track conveniently through 90 and which will be described more fully hereinafter, is connected to the upper end of a vertical tube 40 while the lower end of said tube is connected to an unvented second wedge-shaped guide 42 also provided with a convenient bend of 90 which guides the cigarettes into a guide channel 44 of a flotation conveyor 46 which serves both as a transporting device and as a reservoir. The cigarettes conveyed through each channel 44 are removed from the same by a metering roller 48 and a pair of accelerating rollers 50, one set of each of which is mounted adjacent the end of each guide channel 44 and employed for the purpose of spacing and feeding the cigarettes into a serpentine chute 52 which conducts them into a hopper H of the cigarette packaging machine P, irrespective of the height of the column of cigarettes present. The flotation conveyor 46 which will be described hereinafter is provided with an air tank 54 which by means of a tube 56 is connected to to a suitable source of compressed air (not shown). In order to properly control the feeding of the cigarettes the serpentine chutes 52 are provided with an upper and lower photocell system 58 and 60, respectively, which monitor the cigarettes in the serpentine chutes 52 and effect stopping and starting of the packaging machine drive motor 62 in response to the quantity of cigarettes present and also stopping and starting of the dispenser drive motors 64 or clutches at the catcher bands 30 of the cigarette machines to forward cigarettes as required by the packer P.

Since the speed of present day machines is such that one cigarette packer can consume the quantity of cigarettes :produced by two makers, the cigarette transport system illustrated in FIG. 1 shows two cigarette makers, M1 and M2, connected to one packer P. However, it may be desirable to connect multiple makers to multiple packers to spread the load. It has been found that the best module is to connect 4 packers and 8 makers at current speeds of 200 packs per minute and 2000 cigarettes per minute respectively. This insures that if a packer stops, there is only a surplus of 500 cigarettes per minute on the catcher bands of the 8 separate makers, said bands being long enough and so constructed as to permit a cigarette accumulation of approximately 1,000 or more, thus permitting the packer to remain idle for at least two minutes before the cigarette accumulation must be manually removed. More detailed explanation of this advantage is made hereinafter. The system is arranged for the packers to be capable of consuming slightly more cigarettes than the makers are producing, so that when all packers are running, any accumulation on the catcher bands will be gradually consumed.

The cigarette dispensing device D a plurality of which, as mentioned heretofore, is mounted adjacent the end of each catcher band 30 of each cigarette maker is designed to receive the cigarettes forwarded by the catcher band and feed them one by one into the pneumatic transport tube 32. As illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the dispensing device consists of a suitable housing 66 from one end of which extend a pair of spaced horizontal stud shafts 68 (FIGS. 2 and 4) each of which by means of suitable bearings 70 (FIG. 2) supports a horizontal rotatable roller 72 each of which,

at one end is provided with a suitable pulley 74 which is integral with its roller 72. Both pulleys 74 are in engagement with a length of round belt 76 which at one end is secured to an arm 78 while the other end is attached to a tension spring 80 which in turn is anchored to a suitable Stud 82 secured to and projecting from the housing 66. The arm 78 at its rear end is secured to the free end of a leaf spring 84 while the other end of said leaf spring is mounted to a bar 86 projecting from and secured to the lower side of housing 66. To arm 78 is also secured a lug 88 which at its upper free end carries a stud 90 to which is rotatably mounted a cam roller 92 which engages with an eccentric cam 94 mounted on a transverse drive shaft 96 rotatably supported by a suitable bearing in housing 66. Also mounted on shaft 96 is a sprocket 98 which through an endless chain 100 is driven by a sprocket 102 secured to a transverse shaft 104 rotatably supported by suitable bearings in housing 66. To drive shaft 104 is also secured a pulley 106 which through a belt 108 is driven from a suitable drive unit (not shown).

In case of a multiple hook-up, i.e. when eight cigarette makers are connected to four packers, all dispensing devices D on each cigarette maker are connected to a single drive shaft which in turn is continuously driven by a single motor. However, each individual dispensing device on each maker is driven by a separate pulley mounted on this common drive shaft and each separate pulley is provided with a conventional magnetic clutch which is activated by the photocell 58 of that particular serpentine chute and that particular packer to which the dispensing device is connected, so that some of the dispensing devices on one particular maker may run, while others may be arrested.

It is self-evident when the free end of arm 78, to which one end of belt 76 is fastened, swings up and down due to the action of the rotating cam 94, belt 76 is vertically reciprocated which is made possible by the tension spring 80 to which the other end of the belt is attached. Since the belt 76 is in engagement with the pulleys 74 of the rollers 72, the reciprocal movement of belt 76 imparts oscillating motion to both rollers 72. The rollers 72 are spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette so that only one cigarette at the time can drop through said space and -unto a 'U-shaped trough 110 which is seoured beneath and in alignment with said space (FIG. 4). The center bottom portion of the trough 110 is provided with a suitable cut-out 112 (FIGS. 2 and 4) into which projects a portion of the rim of a circular rotating drum 114 mounted on a transverse shaft 116 rotatably supported by suitable hearings in housing 66. To shaft 116 is mounted a sprocket 117 which engages with the driving chain 100. The rim of drum 114 is also provided with an annular groove 118 which in turn is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 120 leading to the inner face of the rim of said drum. A suction box 122 secured to housing 66 projects into the drum 114 and with its arc-shaped top contacts the inner face of the rim of said drum as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. The arc-shaped top of the suction box 122 is provided with an elongated slot 124 which is in alignment with the holes 120 in the annular groove 118 of the rim of the drum. The suction box 122 by means of a hose 126 is connected to a suitable source of suction (not shown). The cigarettes due to the action of the oscillating agitating rollers 72 are caused to drop, one by one, into the U-shaped trough 110 and with their longitudinal bottom portion seat themselves in the annular groove 118 of the rotating drum 114. Due to the suction applied through the holes in the annular grooves in the rotating drum the cigarettes are propelled forward in longitudinal direction and caused to be engaged at their leading end by a pair of soft endless belts 128. The belts 128 are so arranged that the lower run of the upper belt is always in contact with the upper run of the lower belt (FIG. 2). The upper belt 128 is driven by a suitable pulley 130 mounted on the drive shaft 104 and led over an idler pulley 132 rotatably supported on a shaft 134. The lower belt 128 is driven by a pulley 136 mounted on the drive shaft 96 and is led over an idler pulley 138 rotatably supported by a shaft 140. Each shaft 134 and 140 which rotatably support the idler rollers 132 and 138, respectively, are at one end secured to a bearing plate 142. Each plate 142 by means of a pair of screws 144 protruding through elongated slots 146 in said plate is adjustably secured to the outer face of the rear wall of housing 66. Each shaft 134 and 140 also protrudes through an elongated slot 148 in said rear wall while each plate is provided with a lug 150 each of which engages with the threaded end of an adjusting screw 152 each of which is rotatably supported by a lug 154 secured to the outer face of the rear wall of housing 66. The forward portion of the housing 66 forms a chamber L which is sealed off from the open rear portion by the belts 128 which contact the inner sides of the side walls as well as the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls of housing 66. In order to assure perfect and dependable seal between the belts and the inner sides of the top and bottom walls of the housing as well as a seal between the lower run of the upper belt and the upper run of the lower belt a pair of adjustable lugs 156 are provided between the runs of each belt. Lugs 156 are held by suitable screws 158 protruding through elongated slots 160 in the rear wall of housing 66. Since, as mentioned heretofore, compressed air is introduced through tube 34 to the forward chamber L of the housing 66, the belts 128 must form a dependable air lock to assure proper functioning of the pneumatic transport system. It is essential that the belts 128 consist of such yieldable and soft material to permit complete envelopment of the cigarettes without compressing or damaging the latter while conveying them from the suction drum in feed to a bell-mouth tube 162 secured to and protruding through the forward wall of the housing 66 (FIG. 2). The forward end of the bell-mouth 162 is connected to the pneumatic transport tube 32 so that after a cigarette is delivered to the bell-mouth tube 162 by the belts 128, the air pressure in chamber L takes over and conveys the cigarette through the transport tube 32. Since the cigarettes conveyed through the transport tube 32 by means of air pressure travel at a relatively high speed it is essential to slow the cigarettes down gently and without injury as they approach the exit of the system.

For this reason, when nearing the exit, the cigarettes enter the transport tube 36 which is of slightly larger diameter which causes the cigarettes to slow down by reason of the reduced air velocity resulting from the increased cross-sectional area of the tube 36. Each tube 36 at its end is connected to a vented wedge-shaped guide 38 which is designed to permit the air from the tube to travel in a different direction from cigarettes while continuing to direct and guide the cigarettes through a 90 curve and also to gradually slow the cigarettes down further.

By reason of the centrifugal force exerted by the cigarettes upon the slanted sides of the curved guide 38 friction is generated which causes the slow-down of the cigarettes velocity.

The wedge-shaped guide 38, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, consists of a pair of opposed curved guide tracks 164 each of which is secured to a vertical plate 166. The tracks 164 are spaced from each other and form an open or vented channel 168 as shown in FIG. 8. The curved tracks 164 have angular guide surfaces 170 and 172. The angles of the guide surface may be chosen in accordance to the degree of wedging effect desired which in turn controls the friction generated upon the passing cigarettes. Thus, as the cigarettes proceed through the guide channel 168 formed by tracks 1.64 by reason of their inertia, they smoothly decelerate, which in turn results in a reduction of frictional arresting force, and by curving the guide in a vertical plane, it will be self-clearing, no matter how slowly the cigarettes finally move, for as the velocity approaches Zero, so does the arresting force, permitting gravity to take over, keeping the ci arettes moving so that they eventually fall through a fitting 174 into the vertical tube 40. The arresting force is dependent upon velocity change since as the velocity decreases so does the centrifugal force, which is the only force pressing the cigarettes into the wedge to generate the arresting friction. It is because centrifugal force decreases as the velocity decreases that the arresting force is regulated by the velocity.

The space between the two tracks 164 is provided to permit the air and shorts or particles of tobacco which enter with the cigarettes through a fitting 176 to continue their movement in a straight line while the cigarettes are constrained to move in a curved path of the wedge-shaped channel formed by the tracks 164, thus effectively separating the air and the cigarettes so that they cease to be urged forwardly by the air which being decelerated in the channel of tracks 164. The air and shorts eventually impinge upon a curved plate where centrifugal force causes the tobacco particles and shorts to slide down towards an exit fitting 180 through which they pass via a suitable tube 182 into a collecting box (not shown). Because this path is curved a centrifugal force is applied to both the air and tobacco. As the latter is much more dense than the air it generates within itself a much greater centrifugal force which causes it to separate from the air and slide around the curved plate 178 in intimate contact with it, to be finally projected through the outlet 182. Some air also leaves via this fitting, but some leaves via the space between plate 164 at the lower part of the curve, but no tobacco leaves here because of the sepatures described. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the air is permitted to leave the apparatus through the space between the tracks 164. However, the space may be completely closed to the outside forcing the air to leave with the shorts via the exit fitting 180 after 'which further separation may be achieved by providing well-known air filters and/or dust separators. The curved plate 178 is secured between the two vertical plates 166 and forms a housing with the latter. While the upper end of the vertical tube 40 is connected to the fitting 174 of the Wedgeshaped guide 38 as mentioned above, the lower end of said tube 40 is connected to the second wedge-shaped guide 42 which also forms an arc of 90 and is similar in construction to guide 38. Guide 42 is also employed to slow down the cigarettes after they have fallen from the guide 38 through the vertical tube 40. The guide 42 (FIGS. 9 and 10) consists also of a pair of curved tracks 184 each of which is secured to a vertical plate 186, however, there is no space between the two tracks which in this case are mounted face to face so that their inner angular guide surfaces 188 form a guide channel 190 which is similar to and has the same effect on the passing cigarettes as the channel 168 of guide 38.

The guide 42 directs the cigarettes onto the flotation conveyor 46 to which all guides 42 are secured. The fiotation conveyor 46, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 11, 12, 13, l4, l5, l6 and 17, consists of the air tank 54 which through a tube 56 is supplied with compressed air from a suitable source (not shown). To the top face of tank 54 by means of screws 192 is mounted a plurality of spaced guide channels 44 each of which is butted at one ends against the exit end of one wedge-shaped guide 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, l1 and 12. Each guide channel 44 consists of a bottom rail 194 and a pair of vertical side guide rails 196 secured to said bottom rail by means of screws 198. The bottom rail 194 is provided with a longitudinal rectangular bottom groove 200 and two slanted top surfaces 202 forming a V-shaped channel or runway as shown in FIG. 17. Each bottom rail 194 is also provided with a plurality of spaced vertical holes 204 which match and are in alignment with similar holes 206 in the top side of the air tank 54 (FIG. 15). To the bottom of the longitudinal groove 200 and adjacent to each hole 204 in the rail 194 is secured a suitably bent narrow air deflector plate 208 (FIGS. 14 and 15). The deflector plates 208 are employed for the purpose of deflecting the air stream which enters from the tank 54 through each hole 204 into the channel in a longitudinal direction and thus act as a carrier and conveyor of the cigarettes delivered into said channel by the wedge-shaped guide 42. Since, as shown in FIG. 14, the deflector plate 208 is slightly narrower than the groove 200 it permits the air delivered from the preceding hole to smoothly pass said plate without the danger of creating back pressure at this point. The cigarettes are thus carried smoothly by the air stream in the V-shaped channel formed by the slanted surfaces 202 of rail 194 in the direction of the arrow as illustrated in FIG. 15 of the drawings. Upon nearing the end of the channel the cigarettes contact and are engaged by a rotating metering roller 210 one of each of which is located above and near the end of each channel 44. All metering rollers 210 are mounted on a transverse shaft 212 which is rotatably supported by suitable bearing brackets 214 secured to a suitable frame portion of the machine. To one end of shaft 212 is mounted a sprocket 216 which is driven through a chain 218 from a suitable independent drive (not shown). The metering rollers 210 are employed for the purpose of metering and controlling the rate of speed with which the cigarettes are to be delivered to the packaging machine. In order to prevent wedging of the cigarettes in the V-shaped groove when contacted by the metering roller 210 a wedge-shaped filler piece 220 (FIG. 16) is inserted at this portion at the bottom groove 200 of the rail 194. The filler piece 220 serves the purpose of supporting the bottom portion of the passing cigarettes and eliminating undesired friction with the slanted surfaces 202 of the rail 194. The metering roller 210 feeds the cigarettes one at a time at a predetermined speed into the accelerating rollers 50 for fast take-away from channel 44 and delivery to the serpentine chute 52. Each pair of accelerating rollers 50 are mounted adjacent each end of each conveyor channel 44 and consists of a wide upper roller 222 and a narrow grooved lower roller 224 (FIG. 13). All upper rollers 222 are mounted on a transverse shaft 226 while all lower narrow rollers 224 are mounted on a transverse shaft 228. Shafts 226 and 228 are rotatably supported by suitable bearings in the bracket 214. Each pair of accelerating rollers 50 are driven continuously by means of a gear 230 mounted on the metering rollers drive shaft 212. Gear 230 meshes with an intermediate gear 232 (FIGS. 11 and 12) which in turn engages with a gear 234 mounted on the transverse shaft 226 which carries the upper rollers 222. Gear 234 also meshes with a gear 236 which is mounted on the transverse shaft 228 to which all lower rollers 224 are secured. The intermediate gear 232 is rotatably supported by a stud shaft 238 held by and projecting from the side of one of the brackets 214. The cigarettes propelled forward from each channel 44 by the accelerating rollers 50 fly against a suspended apron 240 (FIG. 12) which arrests their forward movement and causes them to drop into the serpentine chute 52 leading to the hopper H of the cigarette packaging machine P.

Each serpentine chute 52 consists of a centre guide bar 242 and two outer guide bars 244 and 246. Said bars are spaced from each other and mounted to each other by suitable spacer blocks 248 in conjunction with transverse screws 250. Each bar 242, 244, and 246 is provided with a wave or serpentine shaped channel 252, 254 and 256 each of which is slightly wider than the diameter of a cigarette and running through the entire length of the longitudinal central portion of each bar so that each bar consists of two halves which are held in place by the aforementioned spacer blocks 248 in conjunction with a plurality of bridge brackets 258 secured to said bars by means of screws 260. To the bridge brackets 258 which are secured to guide bar 244 by means of screws 262 is mounted a front guide plate 264 (FIGS. 19 and 20) while brackets 258 are secured to guide bar 246 by means of screws 266 is mounted a rear guide plate 268. Each bridge bracket 258 mounted to the bars 244 and 246 by screws 260 is provided with elongated slots 270 to provide adjustability of the front and rear guide plates .264 and 268 in relation to guide bars 244 and 246, respectively,

To the top ends of guide bars 242, 244 and 246 are mounted a pair of spaced vertical guide plates 272 which are employed for the purpose of keeping the cigarettes in line after being ejected from the flotation channel 44 by the accelerating rollers 50. Plates 272 also form a channel to guide the cigarettes properly into the top entrance of the serpentine channels formed in bars 242, 244 and 246. In order to prevent the cigarettes from cocking and to assure that they enter the serpentine channels in perfect horizontal position the entrance of said channels is provided with a transverse guide block 274 which is illustrated in FIG. 18 forms a connection and an even horizontal surface of the first downward slanting step at the start of the serpentine channels in bars 242, 244 and 246. To further keep the cigarettes oriented in horizontal position after entering the serpentine channel the first bend in the serpentine channel 252 of the centre guide bar 242 is provided with an arced filler 276 which deflects the cigarettes around the bend of the channel. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the serpentine channel 252 in the centre guide bar 242 is slightly narrower than the channels 254 and 256 in the outer guide bars 244 and 246, respectively. The reason for this is to keep cigarettes which may be slightly bent on an even keel and prevent them from cocking during their downward travel in the serpentine channels. Another reason for this construction is to accommodate filter tipped cigarettes, the ends of which are larger and necessitate a wider channel; consequently, the cigarettes lie horizontally at all times and not vertical above each other since their axis are not parallel to each other. In order to balance the level of the cigarettes in the hopper H of the packaging machine P as they drop from the lower end of the serpentine chute 52 and also to assist in the even distribution of the cigarettes with said hopper, the lower end of each serpentine chute 52 is pro vided with a pair of spaced hinged flaps 278 which are freely suspended from suitably mounted pins 280 and extend into the hopper H. As mentioned above, the cigarettes dribble out of the bottom of the serpentine chutes 52 into the hopper H and the general level of cigarettes contained in said hopper is lowered in response to the normal functioning of the packaging machine P, thus the accumulation of cigarettes in the serpentine chutes 52 constitutes a fluctuating reservoir. However, if one of the serpentine chutes ceases to deliver cigarettes, the flaps of the adjacent serpentine chutes still delivering cigarettes will spread outwardly under the influence of the weight of the cigarettes contained therein and effect a closing of the flaps of the serpentine chute which has ceased delivery, thus avoiding the forming of a cavity in the level of cigarettes below said serpentine chute and preventing disorientation and cocking of the cigarettes in the hopper when said chute resumes delivery.

Should the packer P be stopped for'any reason whatsoever, the flow of cigarettes, of course, would continue, the level of cigarettes in its hopper would rise and the cigarettes would accumulate and stack up in the serpentine chutes and eventually the entire .system would be choked with cigarettes. To control the flow of cigarettes to the hopper H of the packaging machine, the serpentine chutes 52 are provided with two vertically spaced photo cell assemblies 58 and 60 as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The photo cell assembly 58 is located across the upper portion of the serpentine chutes 52 while the photo cell assembly 60 is located across the lower portion of said chutes 52. The upper photo cell assembly is so arranged and connected that each group of chutes 52 fed by each maker to each side of the divided hopper is sensed separately and connected to that dispensing device D of the cigarette maker which feeds that particular group of chutes. Therefore, when the packer stops and the cigarettes accumulate in the serpentine chutes to the level of the photo-cell assembly 58 the latter will effect the stopping of the appropriate dispensing units D at the cigarette catcher band 30, where under these circumstances, the cigarettes accumulate in the catcher scoop in the normal way. Should the packer be stopped for only a short period of time, as occurs when changing foil bobbins, the accumulation of cigarettes in the catcher scoop may be permitted to remain, for as mentioned heretofore, the speed of the packer is slightly faster than the corresponding maker speeds so that upon restarting, any surplus of cigarettes will be gradually consumed.

Should a cigarette making machine stop, the reservoir of cigarettes contained in the serpentine will be depleted, which is sensed by the lower photo cell assembly which in turn causes the packer motor 62 to stop. The packer does not remain stationary under these conditions, for it is receiving cigarettes from at least one other cigarette maker. These cause the packer to restart as the reservoir is built up, the packer being capable of running automatically at half speed under these conditions indefinitely, although in practice this is not necessary.

When the packer drive motor 62 is automatically switched off by the signal from the lower photo-cell assembly 60, a normally hand operated drive clutch in the packer drive unit (not shown) is left in engagement which causes the packer speed to coast downwardly. This results in the cigarettes being removed from the serpentine chute at a lower rate so that the reservoir in said chutes begins to build up again which in turn is sensed by the photo cell to restart the packer motor 62. In this way, the packer speed will constantly slip to match precisely the quantity of cigarettes available.

The system may also be installed piecemeal, permitting general production to proceed with only one packer and two makers out of production at any one time.

The apparatus does not impose any limitation regarding size or brand of cigarette, no adjustments being necessary to cover the range of sizes currently being catered to by existing makers and packers. The apparatus will function at speeds far in excess of the existing 2000 cigarettes per minute maker speeds.

It will handle all types of plain or filtered tipped cigarettes, on either R.H. or L.H. machines.

A summary of the operation of the apparatus and its advantages is as follows:

The existing maker or F.T.A. cigarette delivery onto the catcher band is not altered, permitting the usual inspection by removal and replacement of cigarettes onto the band to be carried out as required. In the case of filter cigarettes, it is not necessary to employ a turn-around device to obtain the delivery of two rows of cigarettes with their ends facing in the same direction, but there are some minor advantages arising from its use, as described below, so that generally whether or not to use a turn-around device will remain a matter of local preference.

Each row of cigarettes is carried along the catcher band to the end where it reaches a dispensing device into which the cigarettes enter laterally and from which they are removed one at a time at a controlled rate, being fed into a pneumatic transport tube in which they travel in a longitudinal direction. The first dispensing device removes approximately one half of the cigarettes arriving so that the remainder spill over into a second dispensing device which deals with the remaining half. This applies to each row of cigarettes travelling on the catcher band so that the total output of one maker leaves the end of the catcher band via four pneumatic transport tubes which number has been chosen to insure a suitably slow transport speed compatible with high speed maker operation. Thus with a 2000 cigarette per minute maker speed, each transport tube deals with only 500 cigarettes per minute, permitting the installation to deal with still higher maker speeds as these become available.

The cigarettes are removed from the dispensing units with either the tip or tobacco end first, depending upon which end is to be uppermost in the finished pack and by making suitable arangements for each side of the catcher band, all cigarettes may be caused to enter the pneumatic transport tubes with the chosen end first, in spite of the fact that the two rows of cigarettes may be directed oppositely.

The pneumatic tubes carry the cigarettes in any direction to the packing machine, conveniently being situated in the ceiling of the plant when making conversion of existing equipment. For new installation, it may be considered desirable to carry the tubes in ducts provided in the floor. To date, cigarettes have been transported over distances up to 100 feet (30.5 metres) and although there are reasons for keeping the distance between maker and packer as short as convenient, experience to date does not indicate any practical limit through which articles may be transported.

At the packer, apparatus is provided for removing the cigarettes from the air stream and gently decelerating them prior to entry into vertically disposed sepentine channels through which they fall by gravity into the packing machine hopper. The air stream so separated from the cigarettes contains tobacco particles picked up at the catcher and means are provided to collect these particles before allowing the air to escape into the atmosphere. If desired, alternative provision may be made to conduct the transporting air from any number of machines to a central separating plant, eliminating the need for the periodic collection of shorts at the packers.

As stated above, the cigarette delivery to the packer hopper is via serpentine chutes terminating in the packer hopper, eight of such chutes being provided at each packer corresponding to the total of eight pneumatic transport tubes leaving two or more makers.

Cigarettes build up in a lateral direction while contained in the serpentine chutes, dribbling out of the bottom as the general level of cigarettes contained in the packer hopper is lowered in response to the normal functioning of that machine. In this way, the accumulation of cigarettes in the serpentine chutes constitutes a fluctuating reservoir, the height of which is sensed by photo-electric means, to provide control means for the whole system.

It is not necessary to synchronize the speeds of makers and packers, but it is necessary to arrange for the speed of the packer to be approximately 5 to 10% faster than the speed which corresponds to the output of two makers. Under these conditions the reservoir of cigarettes contained in the serpentine chutes will tend to be depleted as the packer runs, which is sensed by the lower photo cell assembly. When this happens, the packer drive motor is automatically switched off (the manually operated drive clutch being left in engagement), which causes the packer speed to coast downwardly. This results in the cigarettes being removed from the serpentine chutes at a lower rate so that the reservoir begins to build up again which in turn is sensed by the photo cell to restart the packer motor. In this way, the packer speed will constantly slip to match precisely the quantity of cigarettes available.

Should the packer be stopped for any reason whatsoever, the reservoir of cigarettes accumulating in the serpentine chutes will be increased which is sensed by a second photo cell assembly. This in turn stops the arrival of cigarettes by stopping the appropriate dispensing units at the cigarette machine catchers; where, under these circumstances, the cigarettes accumulate in the catcher scoop in the orthodox way. Should the packer be stopped for only a short period of time, as occurs when changing foil bobbin, the accumulation of cigarettes in the catcher scoop may be permitted to remain, for as mentioned above, the packer speed is from to faster than the corresponding maker speeds so that upon restarting, any surplus will be gradually consumed.

Should a maker stop, the reservoir of cigarettes contained in the serpentine chutes will be depleted, which is sensed by the lower photo cell assembly which in turn causes the packer motor to be switched off. The packer does not remain stationary under these conditions, for it is receiving cigarettes from at least one other maker. These cause the packer to restart as the reservoir is built up, the packer being capable of running automatically at half speed under these conditions indefinitely, although in practice this is not necessary for reasons described below.

It will be appreciated from what is Written above, that the packer motor is automatically switched off and on in respose to the availability of cigarettes, usually being restarted before it has come to a complete stop. Obviously, conditions can arise when a deficiency of cigarettes may persist for more than a short period of time. Under these conditions, it is well known that the labels in transit through the packer and which have already been gummed will tend to dry before the gummed surfaces are brought together. Should this happen, the packer is not in a fit state to the automatically started but requires the attention of an operator. This is provided for in the electronic circuit by an adjustable timer which, after the chosen period of time, prevents the packer from being automatically restarted, which conditions is announced by a warning light. The system is restored to automatic operation only by the presence of an operator who must manually declutch the packer drive, which gives him the opportunity of attending to the labels, etc. and only when the main clutch is again engaged, is the automatic system again in control via switches connected to the clutch lever.

It is mentioned above that larger installations may consist of modules of 8 makers connected to 4 packers. This provides definite advantages by making it possible to feed the eight serpentine chutes in each packer from eight separate makers, from which it follows that should the packer stop, the surplus cigarettes appear on eight separate catchers, permitting extended periods of packer idle time without inconveniently large accumulations of cigarettes at the catcher. Conversely, should one maker stop, the deficiency will be spread over 4 packers, permitting each packer to run at 78 of its normal operating speed, with consequent improvement in operating conditions.

The main control panel of the system is situated at the packer and this is devised to meet any eventually. Thus, by switching the control to manual, the supply of cigarettes is cut off and the packer can be run via the manually operated clutch without cigarettes. This has been done because when the system is switched to automatic the packer cannot be run unless cigarettes are present. On the other hand, when the system is on automatic and cigarettes are available, the packer can be stopped and started by means of the clutch lever, exactly as a tray fed packer, except that the cigarette hopper will be automatically supplied with cigarettes, no matter how slowly the machine is operated or how frequently the stops are made. Only when the packer clutch .is engaged and the system is switched to automatic is full automatic operation provided for.

To start the complete system, the following procedure is followed:

With the control on manual the packer may be run without the cigarettes to ensure proper operation. With the packer clutch dis-engaged, the six packer cigarette feed channels are manually filled with cigarettes in the usual way and the space between the top of the packer feed channels and the lower end of the serpentine chutes is also manually filled with cigarettes.

Concurrently with this, the makers may be started,

any surplus cigarettes collecting on the catchers being manually removed and placed in trays.

The packer is then switched to auto which causes cigarettes to flow from each maker to the packer, simultaneously illuminating a warning light at each maker to indicate that cigarettes are required. In this way, the reservoirs of cigarettes contained in the serpentine chutes are filled and the flow of cigarettes again interrupted in response to the photo cell assembly. That the cigarettes are available is thus obvious to the packing machine operator who then starts the packer by manually engaging the packer clutch, stopping and starting as necessary until the packer is in operating conditions when the clutch lever is left in the engaged position to obtain fully automate running. As a safety measure, a switch is provided on each catcher to enable the flow of cigarettes to be stopped from that end in an emergency.

It will be obvious from this description that as long as attention is paid to the cigarette machine catchers, both makers and packers may be run for of the available capacity by the simple expedient of picking up and putting cigarettes in trays at the cigarette machine catchers when a surplus is present, due to packing machine stoppages, and by removing cigarettes from those trays and replacing them on the catchers when the cigarette machines are stopped.

Thus, the system provides theoretical conditions under which no loss of production etficiency can be attributed to it.

It will be self-evident that any person stationed at the catcher will be able to devote practically the whole of the time to cigarette inspection, for the periods when cigarettes must be removed or replaced on the catchers will be very widely spaced. Some manufacturers will accordingly prefer to arrange for two maker catchers to terminate in one spot, making it possible for one person to attend to two separate catchers. Alternatively, some may consider it more economical to dispense with separate attendance at the catchers altogether, in which case some loss of output would he suffered because of transient shortage or surplus of cigarettes at the makers due to machine stoppages.

The automatic system is capable of dealing with either alternative and will function continuously, even though makers and packers are not within sight of each other.

It is probable that at least during the early periods of starting up a new installation, most manufacturers will prefer to provide attendance at the maker catchers and this being so, the question of whether or not a turn-around device for filter cigarettes should be employed must be considered. As stated, the duties of such an attendant would be inspection and the picking up and placing of cigarettes in trays when there is a surplus and the replacing of those cigarettes onto the catcher when there is a deficiency. If a turn-around device is used, both rows of cigarettes will be facing the same direction so that either row may be indiscriminately picked up and placed in the same tray, from which either row may be replenished as required.

If a turn-around device is not employed, two methods of operation may be employed. Firstly, two separate receiving trays may be provided at each catcher, cigarettes from each oppositely facing row being placed into or removed from the respective tray.

Secondly, only one tray may be provided into which all cigarettes are placed, making it necessary for the attendant to turn end for end all the cigarettes removed or replaced onto one of the two rows.

The only reason for using a turn-around device is to facilitate the attendants work in picking up and replacing cigarettes on the catcher. As most filter tip attachments are now fitted with such mechanisms, their retention for use with the automatic transfer system will probably be considered worthwhile.

The automatic transfer of filter rods to filter tip attachments A simplified version of the described system is available for automatic transfer of filter rods to FTAs.

This is desirable for it completely eliminates the need for transporting trays of filter rods to the maker floor and relieves the machine operator of the the duties attendant upon maintaining the supply of rods.

With this system, the existing filter rod hopper on the FTA will be removed completely and in its place will be fitted on serpentine chute feeding directly into the single file filter feed channel. The serpentine chute is fitted with upper and lower photo cell assemblies and is pneumatically furnished with filter rods. The serpentine chute thus constitutes a fluctuating reservoir of rods which is monitored by the photo cells to control the system. In this case, the rod source is capable of feeding rods at a faster rate than they can be consumed. Thus, the reservoir of rods contained in the serpentine chutes will tend to be over-filled at all times, the supply being interrupted in response to the upper photo cell assembly to maintain a balance between demand and supply. In this way, no matter how frequently the FTA is stopped or started, rods will always be available, requiring no attention from the maker operator, the rod supply, of course, being automatically stopped when the FTA is stopped and the rod reservoir fills, automatically restarting when the FTA is restarted and the reservoir is depleted.

The lower photo cell assembly never functions except in the case of a rod supply failure when it will automatically stop the maker to avoid unnecessary waste.

In its simplest form, for the type of filter when can be used as soon as being made, the rod supply may come directly from the rod maker. Here the catcher may be either the double or single row version and, in either case, the filter rods are dispensed at a controlled rate as described above for cigarettes, the stream of rods flowing across the entry of one dispensing unit which removes its quota, the surplus flowing onto the next and so on Generally, 6 dispensing units will be required at each catcher, serving 6 separate FTAs, but any number may be provided, depending upon the relative machine speeds.

As before, the stoppage of any PTA will result in a surplus of rods at the maker, which may be picked up and placed in trays, to be replaced on the catcher in the event of a maker stoppage. Thus either machine may be kept running at full speed independently of stoppages of the other.

It will be appreciated that this case differs slightly from the maker system, due to the need to over-feed the FTAs. This will result in a continuous surplus of rods at the maker whose magnitude will depend upon the relative machine speeds. These will have to be periodically removed and placed in trays, say at 10 minute intervals and may be conveniently consumed by stopping the maker at the end of the day or at any other time and refeeding the rods on the catcher as necessary.

An alternative feed system is necessary for those filter rods which need time for curing before being used. These may be placed in trays in the usual way and set aside for the necessary period of time. In a central position is provided the dispensing apparatus comprising a filter rod hopper serving ten individual dispensing units, each supplying via the pneumatic system, rods to the FTAs. The rod hopper may be supplied with rods from trays manually, or the automatic tray feed may be employed, enabling one operator to service more machines, whose number will be determined by the total number of FTAs in use.

What I claim is:

1. A method of conveying cigarettes comprising moving the cigarettes along a path in two streams with similar ends of the cigarettes in the streams adjacent each other, resulting from the manufacture of filter tipped cigarettes, towards a pair of oppositely facing dispensing devices, the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes being transverse to said path, moving the cigarettes of each stream one by one along their longitudinal axes into respective chambers within said dispensing devices, and introducing the cigarettes into and along delivery tubes connected respectively with said devices by means of respective air flows directed through said chambers, said delivery tubes being arranged to guide said streams of cigarettes first away from each other and then in the same general direction of travel with the similar ends of the cigarettes leading.

2. A method of coupling cigarette making machines with a packer, comprising moving the cigarettes issuing from two makers along paths in two pairs of streams with similar ends of the cigarettes in each pair of streams adjacent each other, resulting from the manufacture of filter tipped cigarettes, towards two pairs of oppositely facing dispensing devices respectively, the longitudinal axis of the cigarettes being transverse to said path, moving the cigarettes of each stream one by one along their longitudinal axes into chambers within said dispensing devices, introducing the cigarettes into and along delivery tubes connected respectively to said devices by means of compressed air fed to said chambers, and guiding the streams of cigarettes in each pair in the tubes first away from each other and then in the same general direction with the same ends of the cigarettes leading to the hopper of a packer.

3. An apparatus for conveying cigarettes, comprising a pair of oppositely facing dispensing devices adapted to receive cigarettes disposed with their longitudinal axes transverse to their direction of movement and arranged in two streams with similar ends of the cigarettes in the streams adjacent each other, resulting from the manufacture of filter tipped cigarettes, and delivery tubes connected one to each of two outlets of the devices for receiving the cigarettes, said dispensing devices each having metering means for moving said cigarettes one by one along their longitudinal axes towards a chamber Within said dispensing device, and an air inlet for entry of compressed air to direct the cigarettes into and along the tube, said tubes being arranged to guide the streams of cigarettes first away from each other and then in the same general direction of travel with the similar ends of the cigarettes leading.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a further pair of oppositely facing dispensing devices are provided also adapted to receive cigarettes disposed with their longitudinal axes transverse to their direction of movement and arranged in two streams with similar ends of the cigarettes in the streams adjacent each other, and further delivery tubes connected one to each of two outlets of said further dispensing devices for receiving the cigarettes, said further dispensing devices each having metering means for moving said cigarettes one by one along their longitudinal axes towards a chamber Within said further dispensing device, each further dispensing device having an air inlet for entry of compressed air to force the cigarettes into and along said further tube, said further tubes being arranged to guide the streams of cigarettes first away from each other and then in the same general direction of travel with the similar ends of the cigarette leading, said apparatus effecting the connection of two cigarette makers to the hopper of one packer.

5. An apparatus for conveying elongated articles, comprising a dispensing device capable of receiving the articles disposed with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other and transverse to the path of movement towards the dispensing device, and a delivery tube connected to the outlet of said device for receiving said articles, metering means comprising a pair of rotatably mounted parallel rollers arranged on substantially horizontal axes and spaced apart so as to permit the passage therebetween of cigarettes moving laterally and downwardly, means for effecting simultaneous oscillation of said rollers, a U-shaped trough located beneath said rollers for receiving said cigarettes, a drum rotatably mounted beneath said trough and partly extending at its periphery into a cut-away portion of said trough, said drum having a series of openings through which a suction may be applied, whereby said cigarettes are moved one by one along their longitudinal axes within said dispensing device, said dispensing device having an air inlet for the entry of compressed air to direct the articles into and along the tube.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pair of soft endless belts are provided adjacent said drum and so arranged that the lower run of the upper belt is always in contact with the upper run of the lower belt, said belts forming an air tight seal between said chamber and that part of the dispensing device containing the drum.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the entry end of the tube is located within said chamber opposite the belts so that the leading ends of the cigarettes conveyed by the belts enter the tube before the trailing ends have left the belts.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each delivery tube has a portion towards its delivery end of larger diameter than the remainder of the tube whereby the air velocity within said portion is reduced.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the delivery end of each tube is arranged substantially horizontally, said tube being connected by a curved guide to a vertically disposed tube.

10. An apparatus as claimed .in claim 9, wherein said curved guide comprises a pair of opposed curved tracks spaced from each other and form an open or vented channel.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the curved tracks have angular guide surfaces.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said vertical tube is connected by means of a further curved .guide to a horizontally disposed guide channel of a flotation conveyor.

.13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said flotation conveyor comprises a plurality of spaced guide channels mounted at the top of a tank having compressed air supply means, said channels being formed by vertical side guide rails and bottom rails attached to said vertical side rails.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein each bottom rail is provided with a longitudinal rectangular bottom groove and two slanted top surfaces forming a V-shaped channel, said bottom rail having openings through which the compressed air is forced.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein defiector plates are located in the longitudinal groove adjacent the openings which deflect the air in the direction of travel of the cigarettes.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a chute of serpentine form is arranged adjacent the flotation conveyor to receive the articles from the latter.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein each serpentine chute comprises a centre guide bar and two outer guide bars, said bars being spaced from each other and being provided with serpentine channels in alignment with each other.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the channels in the outer guide bars are substantially the same width as each other and are slightly wider than the channel in the centre guide bar.

19. Terminal apparatus for a pneumatic cigarette trans fer mechanism comprising a housing forming a substantially air tight chamber, said housing having inlet and outlet openings aud an air lock sealing said inlet from said utlet opening comprising a resilient conveyor adapted to re- 1 6 ceive a cigarette at said inlet, discharge said cigarette at said outlet and encapsulate said cigarette during the transfer therebetween, thereby maintaining said seal.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, in which said conveyor has a pair of oppositely-facing substantially-similar simultaneously-coacting members disposed in saidrthird passage and in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the housing.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, in which said pair of coaoting members are a pair of rotors disposed in said housing in sealing engagement with each other and respectively in sealing engagement with opposite portions of said inner surface of said housing for transporting said articles.

22. A device as claimed in claim 21, in which said pair of rotors respectively have a pair of continuous elongate belts with respective pulleys for transporting more than one of said articles at a time one by one between said inlet and said outlet.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, in which said belts have groove portions on the outer surfaces thereof selectively spaced and arranged to form substantially airtight pockets therebetween for carrying said articles therein.

24. A pneumatic-transfer decleration device for connecting to a terminal end portion of a pneumatic transfer tube for rapidly decelerating delicate articles such as cigarettes carried therethrough comprising:

an elongate apparatus having an inlet portion at one end connecting to said tube and an outlet portion at the opposite end thereof, said apparatus including a pair of transversely spaced substantially similar substantially-parallel longitudinally-arcuate guide members with respective oppositely-facing radially-outwardly-converging sidewalls forming a slide of V- shaped cross-section interconnecting said inlet and outlet,

whereby the length of said apparatus is minimized without reducing the amount of frictional restraint to be applied to each said article.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, in which said apparatus has an elongate opening disposed between said sidewalls for automatically exhausting debris through said slide in an arcuate path directed substantially tangent to said track to minimize collection of said debris in said outlet portion.

26. A flotation conveyor for carrying cigarettes along a substantially horizontal path between a pneumatic transfer tube and a cigarette hopper comprising:

at least one elongate channel member having a web portion and a pair of transversely-spaced flange portions, said web having a plurality of longitudinally-spaced air-flow openings for providing a cigarette-conveying air stream thereon; and

a plurality of longitudinal-spaced deflector plates sup ported by said channel and respectively disposed adjacent to said openings and having respective plate portions overlapping said openings and extending downstream of said openings for directing said air stream in a downstream direction.

27. A conveyor as claimed in claim 26, in which said overlapping plate portions have respective transverselyspaced air-flow openings extending therethrough for providing an air film above said plate portions.

2.8. A method of coupling cigarette making machines with one or more packers, comprising moving the cigarettes issuing from each of said makers along paths in two pairs of streams towards a pair of opposite facing dispensing devices respectively, the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes being transverse to said path, moving the cigarettes of each stream one by one along their longitudinal axes into chambers within said dispensing devices, introducing the cigarettes into and along delivery tubes connected respectively to said devices by means of compressed air fed to said chambers, and guiding the respec- 17 five streams of cigarettes to the receiving hopper of a selected packer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,604 5/1919 Sims 302-2 1,307,365 6/1919 Kinyon 30229 1,890,562 12/ 1932 Clute 302-59 18 Eissmann et a1 302-2 Gamberini 302-2 Fluter 30231 Lanz 3O2----2 Kelly et a1 302-2 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF CONVEYING CIGARETTES COMPRISING MOVING THE CIGARETTES ALONG A PATH IN TWO STREAMS WITH SIMILAR ENDS OF THE CIGARETTES IN THE STREAMS ADJACENT EACH OTHER, RESULTING FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF FILTER TIPPED CIGARETTES, TOWARDS A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY FACING DISPENSING DEVICES,THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF THE CIGARETTES OF EACH TRANSVERSE TO SAID PATH, MOVING THE CIGARETTES OF EACH STREAM ONE BY ONE ALONG THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXES INTO RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS WITHIN SAID DISPENSING DEVICES, AND INTRODUCING THE CIGARETTES INTO THE ALONG DELIVERY TUBES CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID DEVICES BY MEANS OF RESPECTIVE AIR FLOW DIRECTED THROUGH SAID CHAMBERS, SAID DELIVERY TUBES BEING ARRANGED TO GUIDE SAID STREAMS OF CIGARETTES FIRST AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THEN IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL WITH THE SIMILAR ENDS OF THE CIGARETTES LEADING. 